High resolution acoustic data of reef habitat - Tasmanian East Coast

The principle aim of this project was to map the fine-scale spatial distribution of key abalone habitat impacted by urchins in < 25 m water depth using multibeam acoustic imagery. Detailed substrate type (Pavement Reef, Megaclast Reef, Mixed Consolidated Sediment/Reef and Sand), and kelp coverage maps have been produced for the east coast of Tasmania. Large urchin barrens have been predicted and the minimum quantifiable unit of which small incipient barrens can be detected has been identified using this acoustic water column technique.

This data provides a snapshot of the 2021 distribution of seafloor habitats and associated vegetation distribution, and will assist in the facilitation of strategic decision making for urchin control and abalone management.

All spatial datasets and derivatives of the have been uploaded onto the Seamap Australia data portal for visualisation as a resource for both managers and scientists for further analysis and study. Data packages have been split by fishing block (22-24, 27-30) and are available to download from each of the 'child' records linked to this record (below).